Columnist is wrong

Matt Csanyi's column "America must educate" (Nov. 14), in which he makes a plea for worldwide population control, offers no solutions to the problem of overpopulation. Csanyi cites population growth in the United States as a contributing factor to overpopulation, yet growth in the U.S. and other industrialized countries (such as Western Europe) has been relatively stable in recent years. The major areas of concern in the world regarding overpopulation are Third World countries (sub-Saharan Africa being of particular concern, especially because of the terrible effect of AIDS in that region) and Asia.\nCsanyi advocates a plan "sending Americans all over the world on mandatory missions" of education. But he does not state WHAT the educating process would consist of. Whose standards for population control would be used? American standards? Standards of the Catholic Church (one of the largest missionary organizations in the world)? Standards of the United Nations? \nMoreover, since Mr. Csanyi holds the view that Americans are "stupid," what would an international mission do to eliminate that stupidity? If we live in a culture that breeds ignorance, how would a mandatory mission abroad change those characteristics?\nAn American missionary plan (at least one which would operate in the manner that Mr. Csanyi described) would most likely be ineffective because of the enormity of the task and America's history of imposing its cultural values and views on other peoples (e.g. the concept of "McWorld," in which American businesses are homogenizing industry and in turn cultures throughout the world). Even with the best of intentions, our intervention might result in the continued assimilation of other peoples into America's concept of culture. \nWe should ask ourselves: What is the purpose of these mandatory missions, to curb overpopulation or to "educate" Americans on world cultures? It appears that Mr. Csanyi is advocating the latter.\nIf overpopulation is to be curbed, it should be coordinated through the United Nations (to which the United States owes billions of dollars in back dues -- which will be paid by Ted Turner), and be organized by native peoples of problem areas. \nAmerica has a history of attempting to assimilate foreign countries, whether through economic colonization or military intervention, and an international missionary program would not only fail to achieve its goals, but also threaten the uniqueness and individuality of foreign peoples.\nMatt Walter\nJunior